Rosa hybrida shrub named &#39;ausjosiah&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSjosiah’. The ‘AUSjosiah’ rose is a plant suitable for repeat flowering production having beautiful and delicate individual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance which is fruity on outer petals with clove in center. The growth is exceptionally vigorous, sending up many shoots from the base and forming a large rampant shrub. The ample foliage is dark green and glossy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a United Kingdom Breeder'sRight Certificate Application No. AFP 5/2116, filed Feb. 11, 2010, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSjosiah’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSjosiah’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed,unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce an exceptionallyvigorous flowering variety having delicate individual blooms of a softrose pink with a lovely fragrance, which is fruity on the outer petalsand clove in the center.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: beautiful and delicateindividual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance which isfruity on the outer petals with clove in the center, exceptionallyvigorous growth sending up many shoots from the base and forming a largerampant shrub, and ample foliage that is dark green and glossy.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed ingreenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that theforegoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form andare established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSjosiah’ may be asexually propagated by budding and grafting. Thebudding and grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosacv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States and on the plant/rootstock Rosadumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ in the United Kingdom.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas the seed parent is not asdisease resistant and has larger more open blooms, ‘AUSjosiah’ bearsindividual blooms of a soft rose pink with a lovely fragrance which isfruity on the outer petals with clove scents in the center.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parent isan overall poorer quality plant, ‘AUSjosiah’ is exceptionally vigorous.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSrumba’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,500). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSrumba’ variety by the following combinationof characteristics: the ‘AUSrumba’ is a medium height rounded shrub,whereas the ‘AUSjosiah’ is a vigorous shrub, the ‘AUSrumba’ producesblooms having a fragrance of strong old rose with a hint of myrrh,compared to ‘AUSjosiah’, which produces a fruity fragrance with clove.In addition, the bud color of the ‘AUSjosiah’ is pink, and the buds of‘AUSrumba’ are apricot-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 2 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of July.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant            during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many            to count.        -   Bud.—Size: About 3.2 cm long and 2 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is globular.            Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color is pink RHS            69D, with red flecks. When half blown, the upper sides of            the petals are pink RHS 68D, and the lower sides of the            petals are pink RHS 69D. Calyx: Shape: (from above)            star-shaped. Length: 6 cm. Diameter: 6 cm. Sepals:            Arrangement: Pointing downwards. Color: Upper Surface green            RHS N138D. Lower Surface: green RHS N143A Length: 3 cm.            Width: 1 cm. Shape: Acuminate. Margin: N/A. Surface texture:            Upper Surface: Mossy. Lower Surface: Leathery. Number: There            are three normally appendaged sepals. There are 2            unappendaged sepals with hairy edges. Receptacles: Color:            green RHS N143A. Shape: pear. Size: medium, about 1.5            cm×1 cm. Surface: Smooth. Peduncle: Length: medium,            averaging about 6.5 cm. Surface: prickly. Color: bronzy RHS            178A. Strength: Strong.        -   Blooms.—Size: Large, average open diameter is about 9 cm.            Borne: Several together (4-14) blooms having pyramidal            shape. Stems: Strength: Strong, average length is about            5-8 cm. Diameter: 3-4 cm. Form: When first open, bloom is            globular. Permanence of bloom: outer petals curl back.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 70.            Color: The upper sides of the petals are salmon pink RHS            Group 62D. The reverse sides of the petals are pink RHS 62D.            The base of the petals has a spot of RHS 11D, with a small            yellow spot RHS 133D on the reverse side. Discoloration:            General tonality at end of first day is salmon pink RHS 62D,            and at the end of the third day is pink RHS 36D, and further            changes with aging to cream RHS 11D. Fragrance: Strong.            Character of fragrance: Fruity on outer petals with clove in            the center.        -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth. Size: Width: 30 mm. Length: 40 mm.            Surface: Smooth. Shape: Round. Margin: Notched. Apex Shape:            Rounded. Base Shape: Pointed. Form: Incurved. Arrangement:            Irregular. Petaloids: Number: 19 Color: pink RHS 62D Length:            30 mm Width: 20 mm Shape: Narrow elliptical Margin: Medium            undulating, medium reflexing. Persistence: Petals hang on            and dry. Lastingness: On the plant: fair, about 4 days. As a            cut flower: not tested.        -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 65. Length: 13 mm.            Anthers: Length: 3 mm. Color: yellow-orange RHS 22A.            Arrangement: Regular around styles. Filaments: Color: red            RHS 44B. Length: 10 mm. Pollen: Color: yellow-orange RHS            22A. Pistils: Number: 30. Length: 6 mm. Styles: Color: red            RHS 44B with yellow RHS 22A. Length: 3 mm. Stigmas: Color:            red RHS 44B with yellow RHS 22A. Length: 3 mm. Hips: None            Observed.-   Plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant form.—Large Shrub (Would train as climber).        -   Plant growth.—Very vigorous.        -   Age to maturity.—Two years.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 1.5 m. Width: 1.5 m.        -   Rootstock.—Rosa ‘Dr. Huey for U.S. and Rosa dumetorum cv.            ‘Laxa’ for observed plants in the U.K.        -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5-7            (including terminal leaflet). Size: Large, about 16 cm            long×12 cm wide. Quantity: Abundant. Number of leaves per            flowering stem is: 12. Color: New foliage: Upper side:            bronze (grey-brown) RHS N199A. Lower side: bronze            (grey-orange) RHS 166A. Old foliage: Upper side: dark green            RHS 139A. Lower side: green RHS 144A.        -   Leaflets.—Size: About 5 cm long×3.5 cm wide. Shape: Pointed            Oval. Base Shape: Cordate. Apex Shape: Obtuse. Texture:            Glossy. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single. Petiole: Color:            green RHS 147C. Length: 3.5 cm. Width: 2 mm. Surface            Texture: With prickles. Petiole Rachis: Color: green RHS            147C. Underside: with prickles. Stipules: Length: 1-2 cm,            bearded. Color: green RHS 144A Auricle: Shape: Pointed.            Length: 1 cm. Width: 1 mm. Color: green RHS 144A. Vein            Color: Green RHS 139B. Venation Pattern: Pinnate.        -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: brown-red RHS 178A. Bark: Rough. Old            Wood: Color: brown-red RHS 178A and yellow-green RHS N144D.            Bark: Rough.        -   Branching habit.—Number: 5 per main stem. Lateral Branch            Dimensions: Length: 15 cm. Diameter: 0.5-1 cm.        -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 25-30 cm. Diameter: 1 cm.            Internode Distance: 30 mm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem            Pubescence Present: Yes.        -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: ordinary.            Number per stem length: 6 per 10 cm. On laterals from main            canes: many. Number per stem length: 12 per 10 cm. Form:            Deep concave. Length: 8 mm. Color when young: red RHS 183A.            Color when mature: red RHS 186A.        -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: few. Number per stem            length: 2 per 10 cm. Laterals: Many. Color: When young: red            RHS 183A. When mature: red RHS N186A.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Mildew.—Resistant.        -   Blackspot.—Resistant.        -   Rust.—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitablefor repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.